This article explores the history, causes, and current state of Karoshi in Japan, a term used to describe death from overwork or work-related illness caused by long hours and/or extreme stress. Since it was first recognized as an issue in 1987, the number of reported cases has steadily increased with no sign of slowing down. The causes are largely attributed to the culture surrounding work in Japan where long hours and extreme stress are considered normal. The impact on Japanese society is immense, highlighting wider issues such as gender inequality and corporate negligence towards employees' wellbeing. In response to this, the government has implemented several measures aimed at tackling this issue head on. Despite these efforts, there has been an increase in death tolls related to overworking between 2018 and 2019 indicating that much more work needs to be done if real change is going to take place.